Hair waving device



March 15, 1932. L. GADD HAIR WAVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 1'7. 1930 INVENTOR. 40w Ggad ATTORNEYS L. GADD March 15, 1 932.

HAIR WAVING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17. 1930 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. L017. Gaza d ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 1932 LOTT GADD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN HAIR WAVING DEVICE Application filed October 17, 1930.- Serial No. 489,307.

My invention relates to hair dressing and has particular reference to an improved methd of and improved mechanism for securing an improved permanent wave.

, Hitherto there has been a more or less standard practice utilized in producing what are commonly termed permanent waves as distinguished from water waves. The general procedure has been to wind the hair tightly about a small bobbin, or spindle, cover the hair so wound with a dampened'cloth and secure the assembly within a heating chamber. A large number of bobbins were utilized inasmuch as only a relatively few strands of hair were wound around each bobbin. After a predetermined period of time the bobbins were removed from the heating chamber and after removal of the bobbin the hair would have formed'itself into a large number of convolutions, more commonly termed curls or ringlets. Such was the first step in the operation.

It was then necessary to dampen the entire head of hair, either incidentally to a champoo or otherwise, and then insert a finger wave. By virtue of the initial procedure of forming the head of hair into a mass of curls the latter operation of finger waving the hair will result in a relatively'permanent wave of the form determined by the finger waving process. Such finger waving is in itself'a laborious and time consuming operation. The immediate result of such procedure has been satisfactory, but due to the fact that an inherent tendency in the hair to curl is what creates the permanency of the wave a fresh finger waving process is necessary following each subsequent wetting of the hair in order to retain the wave as distinguished from the curl.

An object of my invention is to produce a permanent wave in such a way that a single operation only is necessary in lieu of the two distinct operations heretofore outlined. That is to say, I contemplate the creation of a wave in the hair on the initial heating operation, thereby eliminating the necessity of subsequently finger waving the dampened hair. In this way the necessity for substantially finger waving the hair later each time it be comes wet in order to reproduce the wave is eliminated. It is only necessary after a subsequent shampooing to comb the hair in the ordinary fashion, and upon drying, the wave which has been formed into the hair by my single operation will re-form.

In accomplishing the above object a secondary and tremendously important advantage results. This resides in the fact that a substantial portion of the time and labor necessitated for the permanent waving process is eliminated.

Another object of my invention, which follows the primary object above specified, is to eliminate the necessity of substantially reforming the wave in the hair after the hair has become damp by shampooing, et cetera.

I contemplate securing the above specified advantages by utilizing a plate unit which includes a. plurality of combs positioned in parallel relation and spaced apart at intervals throughout the length of the plate. Each of these combs we so mount. upon the plate as to be transversely adjustable and easily manipulated means are provided for its adjustment By drawing the hair tightly through such a series of combs and staggering each alternate comb to form a wave in the hair, and subsequently placing the plate within a heating unit, the hair will be formed into a permanent w ave rather than a permanent curl which must subsequently be waved.

Plate and heating box units of various dimensions will be necessary for varying lengths of hair. A small unit sutficient to form a single wave only will be useful, particularly for inserting a single waye near the roots of the hair when the same has grown to a substantial extent subsequent to the initial waving process.

Various other objects and meritorious features of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of my plate unit,

Fig. 2 is a section along 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section through 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. i is an end elevation of the plate unit, we

Fig. 5 is a detail of the hair clamping mechanism at each end of the plate unit,

Fig. 6 is a perspective, partly broken away and in section, of a positioning seat for the comb element,

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the comb element itself,

Fig. 8 is a section through 8-8 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 9 is a section through 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Secured at longitudinally spaced apart intervals to the bottoms of strips 10 and 12 are the guide blocks 14. The comb element 16 is adapted to seat on the guide block 14 and may be actuated along the said block in a manner to be described.

Secured to the bottom of the base of comb element 16 is a positioning block 18 which is provided with an internally threaded aperture 20. Block 18 is adapted to drop into the guide recess 22 of guide block 14, the relative movement of the comb to its guide block being limited by the extremities of said recess. The cut away portions 24 at each extremity of guide block 14 provide a snug seat for the strips 10 and 12. Guide pins of any desired type, such as 26 and 28, are secured to the underside of comb element 16 and are adapted to slide along grooves 30 and 32 of guide block 14. The ends of guide block 14 are apertured to receive a threaded bolt 34 which is adapted to cooperate with the internal threads in aperture 20 to move the comb element 16 along its guide block 14 upon rotation of the bolt. One extremity of each bolt 34 is provided with a knurled disc 36 by which the comb may be manipulated.

Pivoted to brackets 38, one of which is secured at each end of strip 10, are clamping bars 40 which cooperate with similar bars 42 fixedly secured between corresponding ends of plates 10 and 12 to hold the hair firmly in position after the same has been drawn through the combs. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 the contacting edges of bars 40 and 42 are beveled reversely to form a tight joint and each contains a small insert, 44 and 46, of some yielding material, such as rubber, to further insure a firm grip.

Pivoted to brackets 38 at each extremity of strip 12 are looking units 48, the lower shank portions of which are adapted to slide into the bifurcations 50 on the ends or bars 40 opposite to the ends at which they are pivoted. Elements 48 are provided with enlarged heads 52 which rest upon the top of bar 40 to secure the same in clamped position. Operation of this locking element is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

As hitherto outlined, a strand of hair is first securely clamped near the roots of the hair by one of the cooperating sets of clamping bars 40 and 42. The hair is then drawn firmly through the combs, which are preferably in longitudinal alinement at this stage of the operation, and clamped in like fashion by the cooperating locking bars 40 and 42 at the outer extremity of the unit. Obviously various lengths of plate assembly will be necessary for various lengths of hair. The knurled discs 36 are then rotated as desired to position the alternate combs in staggered relation as indicated clearly in Fig. 8. The hair may be initially clamped in the plate unit with any desired degree of tautness, depending largely upon the depth of wave ultimately desired. The more slack is the hair when initially clamped at each end of the plate unit, the greater transverse movement of each individual comb is permissible, and consequently the greater depth of the wave.

Having completed the operation of securing the strands of hair to the plate units, the plates are positioned in a heating box such as is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. These heating elements may comprise a hinged box having an upper and lower portion 54 and 56. In the bottom of each portion is secured a plate of insulation material 58 in which is em bedded a series of resistance coils 60. clearly indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 the box may be hinged along one side, 61. Along the contacting edges of the upper and lower portions at one end are secured, in any desired manner as by the brackets 62, strips of yieldable material 64 for the purpose of providing a tight joint over the root extremities of the air when the heating box is closed.

For the purpose of preventing possible injury to the hair when the heating coils are energized, we contemplate covering each side of the plate assembly, including the hair held thereby, with a moistened cloth as indicated at 66 and 68 of Fig. 9. After receiving the proper heat treatment, both as to duration 7 oz;

of time and temperature, the plate assembly is removed from the box, or vice versa, and the strands of hair removed from the combs after loosening clamping bars 40. It

is then only necessary to comb out the hair -'iin a normal way and the permanent wave is complete. As hitherto stated, all the subsequent procedure of specifically dampening the hair and shaping up the wave by the finger method is eliminated. be a certain degree of moisture retained by the hair upon its removal from the assembly by virture of the dampening cloths which have been utilized as a protective measure.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the entire length of hair is subjected to a substantially uniform heat, thereby eliminating the tendency in the curling process to There will 1 burn the hair at the ends, where it contacts the spindle upon which it is wound.

Upon subsequent wetting of the hair by shampoo, et cetera, the wave will re-form upon simply combing out the hair after it has dried, again without the necessity of reshaping the wave by the finger method.

Having illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention other meritorious advantages and features will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I intend to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim:

1. Mechanism of the class described including, in combination, a frame, a plurality of combs slidably associated therewith in longitudinally spaced apart relation, and means for shifting each of said combs transversely independently of the others.

2. Mechanism of the class described including, in combination, a frame, a plurality of combs slidably associated therewith in longitudinally spaced apart relation, and means associated with each comb for shifting it transversely in either direction independently of the others.

3. In combination with mechanism of the class described, a frame, a plurality of guide blocks secured at spaced apart intervals along said frame transversely thereof, a comb seated within each of said blocks and adapted to move along the length thereof.

4. In combination with mechanism of the class described, a frame, a plurality of guide blocks secured at spaced apart intervals along said frame transversely thereof, a comb seated within each of said blocks and adapted to move along the length thereof, and independently operable means associated with each of said blocks and combs for so moving the latter.

5. In combination with mechanism of the class described, a frame, a plurality of guide blocks secured at spaced apart intervals along said frame transversely thereof, a comb seated within each of said blocks and adapted to move along the length thereof, and means independently operable externally of said frame for so moving the latter.

6. Hair waving mechanism comprising, in combination, a frame, a plurality of combs secured thereto in longitudinally spaced apart relation for transverse movement in relation thereto, means associated with each comb operable independently externally of said frame for so shifting each comb, and a heating unit surrounding said frame, said heating unit including resistance elements embedded in insulation upon each side of said frame.

7. Hair waving mechanism including, in combination, a frame, clamping mechanism at each end thereof adapted to secure a plurality of hairs in fixed position, and a comb secured intermediate the ends of said frame, said comb being transversely slidable with relation thereto.

8. Mechanism of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of guide blocks positioned within said frame in longitudinally spaced apart relation, each of said guide blocks including a slot extending throughout a portion of its length intermediate the ends thereof, and a comb element slidably positioned upon said block and including a guide member extending within said slot to guide and limit the sliding movement of the comb within the block.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising a frame, aplurality of guide blocks positioned Within said frame in longitudinally spaced apart relation, each of said guide blocks including a slot extending throughout a portion of its length intermediate the ends thereof, a comb element slidably positioned upon said block and including a guide member extending within said slot to guide and limit the sliding movement of the comb within the block, and independently operable means associated with each comb for sliding the same along its respective block.

10. In combination with a frame member, a guide block positioned transversely across the frame member, a slot extending throughout a portion of the length of said block intermediate its ends, a restricted slot communieating with each end of said first mentioned slot, the comb element slidably supported upon the surface of said block and extending lengthwise thereof, a member secured to the under surface of said comb intermediate its ends and extending within said first mentioned slot to limit the longitudinal movement of the comb along the guide block, and means adjacent each end of said comb element secured to the under surface thereof adapted to slidably engage said communicating slots.

11. In combination with a longitudinally extending guide block having a slot therein intermediate its ends, an aperture extending longitudinally through the body of said block from each end thereof and communicating with said slot, a comb element having a downwardly projecting portion adapted to slide within said slot, athreaded aperture through said downwardly projecting element in longitudinal alignment with the apertures in the body of said block, and a threaded rod journalled in said apertures and extending through the threaded aperture in said downwardly projecting portion.

In testimony whereof, I, Lo r'r GADD, sign this specification.

LOTT GADD. 

